By Kris Freeman
White House Football

Just one week ago, the White House Blue Devils faced their first adversity of the season with a comeback victory over Creek Wood in freshman action, winning 38-24 after trailing by seven in the third quarter.

But Thursday night at Gallatin, a comeback was not the only thing needed - a furious red zone stand in the closing moments helped the Blue Devils preserve their unbeaten record, moving to 5-0 for the season with a 14-10 triumph at Green Wave Stadium.

Bryan Dixon may have been held in check by the Green Wave defense trying to run the football, but he was clutch for White House on defense in the closing minute, making a game-saving tackle on a long pass play across the middle at the Blue Devil 17, then intercepting the final pass of the game in the endzone to seal it. One play before, teammate Rob Poindexter broke up a corner pass route in the back of the endzone.

Dixon rushed 21 times for 67 yards and a touchdown in the contest on offense, but the Blue Devil attack was led by passing and marred by turnovers, fumbling twice and throwing an interception. Quarterback Aussie Light completed 8-of-12 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown, the eventual game-winner a 24-yarder to Poindexter with 3:16 left in the third period.

Twice in the fourth quarter Light came up big to find receivers, hitting Poindexter for 49 yards on 3rd-and-20 buried in their own territory, but when the play was called back on an ineligible receiver, Light stepped up on 3rd-and-25 and nailed Jeff Edgar for a first down and a 30-yard gain into Gallatin's side of the field.

But Light also had a couple of plays he wished to give back, fumbling at the Gallatin one in the third quarter, trailing 10-6, just two plays after connecting with Edgar for 49 yards. Light was also incomplete twice before the half inside the Gallatin 10, leaving the Blue Devils trailing by four at the break, and later was intercepted at the Gallatin 10 - which set up the Green Wave's final push down the field to try and win the game.

Edgar had an incredible night for the Blue Devils with 193 all-purpose yards and nine tackles on defense, catching six passes for 140 yards and rushing four times for 14 yards, adding a 39-yard kick return on White House's opening possession.

In a very even game statistically, the Blue Devils ran 46 plays for 283 yards, but never punted, going 3-of-6 on third down and 0-of-2 on fourth down. The Green Wave ran 45 plays for 266 yards, converting 4-of-9 third downs and 1-of-2 fourth downs. Gallatin had two fumbles, losing one, while White House lost both of its miscues, and each team had an interception.

Gallatin opened the game with a monumental march, driving 16 plays and 65 yards, taking all but 29 seconds of the first quarter to put three points on the board with a 30-yard kick, to lead 3-0.

White House immediately responded to take the lead, with Edgar catching a 35-yard ball to add to his big kick return, and Dixon cashed in the drive from one yard away, but Zach Byrd failed on the run attempt for a 6-3 White House lead in the second quarter.

Gallatin made it three scores in three drives combined for the two teams, taking the lead right back with another long drive down the field. Gallatin went eight plays, 72 yards and scored on a 21-yard pass, with the extra point good for a 10-6 Green Wave edge with 4:23 remaining in the first half.

Gallatin recovered an onside kick, but two plays later Byrd recovered a Green Wave fumble at the Gallatin 48. White House slowly moved inside the Gallatin 10, but when Dixon lost three yards on 2nd-and-goal from the seven, the Blue Devils passed twice incomplete to enter the half trailing by four.

White House opened the second half with authority, but after a 49-yard catch by Edgar, Light was stripped at the Gallatin one. White House forced a three-and-out and punt, and then drove 50 yards for the winning score.

Dixon, Byrd and Jacob Upchurch rushed the ball to the Gallatin 24, and Poindexter caught Light's delivery in the middle of the endzone for a 12-10 edge, and Dixon capitalized on the two-pointer for the eventual 14-10 final.